Summer Hope Whispers

Words from iBibleverses.com

Who God Says We Are

When times are tough, it can be easy for us to slide back into the rut of our insecurities and feelings of worthlessness. But the truth is, that even though we may “feel” insignificant and inadequate, God declares and maintains we are beloved, chosen, and favored!

🦋 What Would You Name Yourself? by Vaneetha Risner

“What we tell ourselves in our suffering powerfully shapes how we experience it.

Are you telling yourself that you are beloved? If you are certain that you are unconditionally and extravagantly loved by God, it will give you courage and hope, convinced that whatever is happening to you cannot be anything but God’s best for you. 

So what would you name yourself today? Would you name yourself by how you feel and the narrative that you subconsciously replay in your head… forgotten, unloved, undone? Or can you name yourself as you truly are… beloved, chosen, favored?”

🦋 Who God Says You Are by Nancy Beach

“One morning I opened my Bible and read today’s key verse: â€śSee what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. Beloved, we are God’s children now” (1 John 3:1a, 2a).

Beloved. Valued. Belonging. Accepted. Wanted.

Regardless of what others say or do, our identity rests secure in who God says we are. He says we are beloved. He says we are cherished for who we are in His eyes, not because of something we’ve done or not done. We are precious in His sight, one-of-a-kind, created for a unique purpose.”

God’s Whispers of Love

When we feel unloved
God whispers His Truth
My child, I love you with an everlasting love!
With unfailing love I have drawn you to Myself!


When we feel ugly
God whispers His Truth
My child, I have wonderfully created you
And I delight in your beauty!


When we feel dirty,
God whispers His Truth
My child, I have purified you
And made you whiter than the snow!


When we feel defeated,
God whispers His Truth
My child, in spite of everything that happens to you,
You are more than a conqueror through Him who loves you!


When we feel rejected and deserted,
God whispers His Truth
My child, I will never ever abandon you
I am with you always even to the end of the world!


When we feel at a loss about what to do,
God whispers His Truth
My child, no matter the situation or the chaos,
I am still in control and will get you through this!
Just keep taking one step at a time.
You don’t need to understand,
You just need to hold My hand.


(Jeremiah 31:3, Psalm 139:14, Psalm 45:11, Romans 8:37,
Psalm 51:7, Hebrews 13:5, Matthew 28:20)

“Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens;
    Your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.
Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
    Your justice like the ocean depths.
You care for people and animals alike, O Lord.
How precious is Your unfailing love, O God!
All humanity finds shelter
    in the shadow of Your wings.”

Psalm 36:5-7

Nature Retreat

”Go out, go out, I beg of you
And taste the beauty of the wild.
Behold the miracle of the earth
With all the wonder of a child.”

~ Edna Jacques ~

I love walking along the trail near the river, soaking in the sights and sounds of “the beauty of the wild” as the author of this quote puts it. Every bit of it still fills me with “the wonder of a child.” The heaviness in my heart over all that’s going on in this world seeps away as I remember how God has clothed and preserved the beauty of His creation and He is still in control.

Now for the grand finale of photos… My brother John recently discovered Great Blue Herons cough up pellets of the indigestible parts of the food they eat just as owls do. Okay, so I said “Gross!” when I first saw it. But it still fascinates me how God has equipped some birds to do this. Can you imagine what a belly ache all those indigestible parts would cause otherwise?

God Is Still In Control and His Love Will Never Leave Us

Discombobulated. A word that has often bounced around in my head and invaded my life lately. It’s a fancy word for being disoriented or confused, not knowing which way is up or down. I think it’s how many people are feeling these days.

So much is happening in this world that we can’t understand. Honestly, I feel physically, emotionally, mentally, and even spiritually burned out at times.

As I sat at my desk and looked out the window, I told God how burned out I feel and how I didn’t know if I can return to blogging. The words just weren’t there. Then a butterfly fluttered past the window and He whispered, “My child, I am with you.”

Yes, God is always with us, even when it doesn’t feel like it. Whether or not we have words to write. Even in the midst of all the chaos and confusion in this world. As He promises in Romans 8:38, NOTHING can separate us from HIS LOVE.

Over the past couple of weeks, God has been nudging me with some more truth reminders:

❤️ God’s Plan Is Always In Order and His Love Never Leaves Us

No matter how discombobulated we may feel and how out of control the world seems, God wants us to place our hearts and lives and anyone else’s life into His hands and trust He loves us and is still in control.

❤️ We Need Connection

There are so many people who feel the same way we do and need to feel less alone and more understood. So it doesn’t matter if our words sound discombobulated. We just need to speak from our hearts. He wants us to share our stories so others feel less alone and to encourage them to remember His love never fails, even in the midst of pain, heartache, and devastation in our own hearts or in all the chaos of this world.

❤️ God Wants Us to Go at Our Own Pace

We don’t need to keep pace with others. We don’t have to pressure ourselves to regularly write a post like other bloggers can or do. Sometimes other needs are begging for our attention, whether it’s those around us or our own bodies and minds. Sometimes we just don’t have the energy to do it all. And that’s okay. Yes, it’s good to write posts to encourage others, but God also wants us to encourage each person He has placed in our lives outside of blogging. God just wants us to “be”, not to be consumed with “doing” more.

❤️ God Wants Us to Pursue Beauty and Share It With Others

“Because while escaping reality may be tempting right now, that is not the life we are called to in Christ Jesus. Rather, we are are called to be Light in the darkness.

The very act of pursuing beauty ignites a spark.

Now, more than ever before in our lifetimes, is the time to fling beauty far and wide. To engage in the divine work! Whatever gifts He has given you, now is the time to use them. Plug your spiritual umbilical cord into the Holy Spirit and get down to business!”

Read More at Inspired by June

Prayer of a Prisoner In a Concentration Camp

“In me there is darkness,
But with You there is light;
I am lonely, but You do not leave me;
I am feeble in heart, but with You there is help;
I am restless, but with You there is peace.
In me there is bitterness, but with You there is patience;
I do not understand Your ways,
But You know the way for me.”

“Lord Jesus Christ,
You were poor
And in distress, a captive and forsaken as I am.
You know all man’s troubles;
You abide with me
When all men fail me;
You remember and seek me;
It is Your will that I should know You
And turn to You.
Lord, I hear Your call and follow;
Help me.” 


 Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Letters and Papers from Prison

A SONG TO INSPIRE

🎶 LOVE GOD LOVE PEOPLE 🎶
by Danny Gokey

“…Gotta keep it real simple, keep it real simple
Bring everything right back to ground zero
‘Cause it all comes down to this
Love God and love people (People)
We’re living in a world that keeps breakin’
But if we want to find a way to change it
It all comes down to this
Love God and love people…”

God Desires to Comfort Us When Anxieties and Worries Are Many

“When the cares of my heart are many,
 Your consolations cheer my soul.”
Psalm 94:19 ESV
“When anxiety overtakes me and worries are many,
Your comfort lightens my soul.”
Psalm 94:19 VOICE

Dear Readers,
I am taking a break from blogging until August 20. Meanwhile, please feel free to browse old posts. Above all, remember that when cares, anxieties, and worries overtake you, God desires to take you in His safe and loving arms and comfort you! Life’s struggles can be heavy, but God’s still got us. No matter how much it hurts or how hard it gets, may God help us to trust Him and His plan and timing!
Love in Christ Jesus!
Trudy

“Be Still”
by Hillsong

“Be still and know
That the Lord is in control
Be still my soul
Stand and watch as giants fall…”